The event, generously hosted by the Samoa Tourism Authority (STA), brings together a dynamic and unique line up of international thought leaders recognised for their success and expertise in innovative and disruptive thinking.

“The first Pacific Tourism Insights Conference yielded a new era in the Pacific tourism conversation by exploring regional opportunities and challenges in line with global trends and influences. That event highlighted the need to for both the public and private sectors to embrace change and build a strong foundation that protects the Pacific’s unique culture and heritage,” said PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy. “As we continue to emphasize this particular theme, this year’s event remains focused on four primary issues: insights, development, expertise, and sustainability.”

Chris Cocker, CEO – South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), said, “Tourism is becoming a rapidly evolving industry where technology and changing mindsets of travelers continuously influence the way host destinations are having to plan, develop, market and manage. In the Pacific Islands, understanding and keeping up with these changes can be challenging, however through platforms such as the Pacific Insights Tourism Conference, we as a region can learn more, assess, and adapt if necessary on key areas of tourism-related insights, development and expertise and importantly sustainability for our Pacific tourism industry.”

Sonja Hunter, Samoa Tourism Authority (STA) and Chair Lady – South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), added, “This is the Information age and there is so much to collect, analyse, and understand in positioning our destinations to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. The Pacific Insights Tourism Conference will provide more intelligence and dialogue to inspire action for beneficial results.”

Key topics to be analysed and discussed during this insightful event will contribute towards achieving the objectives of the Pacific Tourism Strategy 2015-2019, which provides the strategic framework to support the development of tourism in the Pacific.

The registration fee is US$100 and complimentary for local delegates and students. PATA and SPTO members will receive a 50% discount under a designated promotional code, which can be attained by emailing pacific@PATA.org.

Founded in 1951, PATA is a not-for-profit membership association that acts as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. The Association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research and innovative events to its member organisations, comprising 98 government, state and city tourism bodies, 19 international airlines and airports, 91 hospitality organisations and 70 educational institutions, as well as over a hundred young tourism professional (YTP) members across the world. The PATA network also embraces the grassroots activism our 36 Chapters and 20 Student Chapters across the world. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 36 local PATA chapters worldwide, while hundreds of students are members of the 20 PATA student chapters globally. The chapters and student chapters organise travel industry training and business development events. Their grassroots activism underpins PATA’s membership in Uniting Travel, a coalition of the world’s major Travel & Tourism organisations dedicated to ensuring that the sector speaks with one voice and acts in unison on the major issues and includes ACI, CLIA, IATA, ICAO, WEF, UNWTO and the WTTC. The PATAmPOWER platform delivers unrivalled data, forecasts and insights from the PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre to members’ desktops and mobile devices anywhere in the world. PATA’s Head Office has been in Bangkok since 1998. The Association also has official offices or representation in Beijing and London.